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Our CBD Skin Salve was originally formulated to help with skin irritations- bug bites, rashes, etc. Even though it is very helpful for these discomforts, we have received many testimonials that our CBD Skin Salve also reduces the appearance of wrinkles! “I initially used the CBD Skin Salve to help with healing a severe burn. When I had some leftover, I decided to try it on the deepening crease between my eyebrows and the hints of crow’s feet around my eyes. After a few uses, I started noticing that the wrinkles were less pronounced and were quicker to disappear after a smile or a scowl.” A.Adams, Boulder, CO

One of the easiest and most convenient ways to administer CBD is through topical application. These can take the form of salves, balms, lotions, creams, body washes, and more. The skin is quick to absorb lipid-based materials that make contact with it and therefore, this is one of the most effective ways to use cannabinoids. More and more, studies are showing that topical application of CBD oil may be able to aid in pain management, skin elasticity, and it also holds anti-inflammatory properties. Patients with arthritis, chronic pain, or swelling have reported that topical CBD treatments may have helped with their disease and have found it to be more effective than oral administration or pharmaceutical drugs when it is applied to affected areas.

Topical CBD has been around since the dawn of civilization and with the advent of medical marijuana and hemp CBD research, it has made a resurgence in modern times. While it is still a relatively new treatment and the medical benefits of cannabinoids are still being researched, the DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Science recently published a paper detailing work done examining therapeutic effects of CBD cream on mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a type of brain inflammation similar to the human disease multiple sclerosis (MS). You can read details about the full study at the link, but the application of CBD cream to rodents with the disease was able to decrease the clinical EAE score, increase their body weight, and restore their paw sensitivity.

Most pharmaceutical companies have not given serious consideration into producing CBD salves and creams, as they focus on oral ingestion, but with more and more research the following conditions might be able to be alleviated with CBD topicals:

Pain management: When it comes to chronic pain or arthritis, patients have reported that CBD topicals can play a part in alleviating and reducing pain. The CBD oil allows them to focus on specific locations and is fast acting. This site details examines some scenarios where marijuana/CBD oil have been used in arthritis treatment.

Burn management: Whether it’s a sunburn, minor kitchen injury, or even in more severe cases, there are several reports of people using CBD topicals to treat burns. There is a case where a burn patient burned their leg from a car exhaust. Although it was not a major injury, it was still painful and prone to infection. The left side was treated with antibiotic cream 4 times while the right side was treated with CBD oil only once. The patient reported more pain relief and healing with the CBD oil and proceeded to use that in lieu of antibiotic cream for the remainder of their treatment. While oil-based ointments are not ideal for treating a burn, minor burns may benefit from topical application after the initial injury.

Inflammation: Inflammation is painful and may decrease quality of life including the ability to perform everyday tasks. There have been patients who have reported less pain during the day and more restful nights when they applied CBD tincture directly to troubled areas.

Skin elasticity: Whether it’s derived from marijuana or hemp, many have found CBD topical treatments to increase the quality of their skin to give it a healthier, younger look. Some have even reported creams, lotions, and salves to soothe surface conditions such as eczema. Even Vogue wrote a piece on these benefits.

While it is still a young treatment in the medical field and there is much to be studied, individuals have even reported that CBD topical treatments have improved their sex drive/pleasure, treated infections, and more. Discover CBD has an archive of blogs and links to medical research and news articles about the benefits of CBD. We invite you to do your own research and arrive at your own conclusions.

AURORA, Colo. (April 18, 2017) – Cannabinoids contain anti-inflammatory properties that could make them useful in the treatment of a wide-range of skin diseases, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

The new study, published online recently in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, summarizes the current literature on the subject and concludes that pharmaceuticals containing cannabinoids may be effective against eczema, psoriasis, atopic and contact dermatitis.

Currently, 28 states allow comprehensive medical cannabis programs with close to 1 in 10 adult cannabis users in the U.S. utilizing the drug for medical reasons. As researchers examine the drug for use in treating nausea, chronic pain and anorexia, more and more dermatologists are looking into its ability to fight a range of skin disease.

“Perhaps the most promising role for cannabinoids is in the treatment of itch,” said the study’s senior author Dr. Robert Dellavalle, MD, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

He noted that in one study, eight of 21 patients who applied a cannabinoid cream twice a day for three weeks completely eliminated severe itching or pruritus. The drug may have reduced the dry skin that gave rise to the itch.

Dellavalle believes the primary driver in these cannabinoid treatments could be their anti-inflammatory properties. In the studies he and his fellow researchers reviewed, they found that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) the active ingredient in marijuana, reduced swelling and inflammation in mice.

At the same time, mice with melanoma saw significant inhibition of tumor growth when injected with THC.

“These are topical cannabinoid drugs with little or no psychotropic effect that can be used for skin disease,” Dellavalle said.

Still, he cautioned that most of these studies are based on laboratory models and large-scale clinical trials have not been performed. That may change as more and more states legalize cannabis.

Dellavalle said for those who have used other medications for itch and skin disease without success, trying a cannabinoid is a viable option especially if it has no psychotropic effect. He did not recommend such medications for cancer based on current evidence.

“These diseases cause a lot of problems for people and have a direct impact on their quality of life,” he said. “The treatments are currently being bought over the internet and we need to educate dermatologists and patients about the potential uses of them.”

The other authors of the study include Jessica S. Mounessa, BS, Julia A. Siegel, BA and Cory A. Dunnick, MD.

The hemp industry has taken the DEA to court in the wake of a controversial new rule on marijuana extracts.

Denver’s Hoban Law Group, representing the Hemp Industries Association, Centuria Natural Foods and RMH Holdings LLC, on Friday filed a judicial review action against the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, alleging the agency overstepped its bounds when enacting a rule establishing coding for marijuana derivatives such as cannabidiol (CBD) oil. The action, Hoban attorneys allege, puts at risk a booming cannabis and hemp industry and a wide variety of hemp-based products currently on the market.

“We’re talking about jobs and the economy and agricultural (revival),” attorney Bob Hoban said in an interview with The Cannabist on Friday.

The DEA last month confounded many in the cannabis industry with the filing of a final rule notice establishing a Controlled Substances Code Number for “marihuana extract,” and subsequently maintaining marijuana, hemp and their derivatives as Schedule I substances.

DEA officials said the code number would assist in the tracking of materials for research and would aid in complying with treaty provisions. However, compliance attorney Hoban and others expressed concern at the time that the language could result in federal agencies viewing products produced from marijuana and hemp as illegal.

The rule was set to take effect Friday — the same day Hoban filed suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco.

Hoban’s petition seeks a judicial review of the final rule on the basis that the action was inconsistent with the law — including the U.S. Controlled Substances Act and the Agricultural Act of 2014, or the Farm Bill — and effectively amounts to a scheduling action.

A scheduling action, Hoban said, would need congressional approval.

According to the lawsuit:

“Additionally, the final rule creates this new drug code, indicative of being a controlled substance, for substances which are in fact not controlled pursuant to the (Controlled Substances Act),” Hoban attorneys wrote in the lawsuit. “Specifically, the final rule dictates that the mere presence of ‘cannabinoids,’ which are not controlled substances, is the determinative factor of whether a compound is a ‘marihuana extract.’

“Further, the final rule overbroadly defines ‘marihuana extract,’ without reflecting that certain portions and varieties of the genus Cannabis sativa L. are congressionally exempted from the CSA and/or are exempted from being treated as controlled substances altogether pursuant to the relevant laws, as enacted by Congress.”

When it comes to the Cannabis sativa herb, the most commonly known cannabinoids are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). These cannabinoids are responsible for the effects users experience when ingesting the plant, whether psychoactive or not. While THC is known to create a “buzz” among users, CBD is actually a non-psychoactive part of the cannabis plant and is believed to have numerous medicinal benefits, including but not limited to relieving symptoms of seizure disorders and relieving inflammation, anxiety, and nausea. Cannabidivarin (CBDV) is a homologue of CBD, only differing slightly in the chemical composition: the 5-carbon (pentyl) side chain is substituted for a 3-carbon (propyl) sidechain. Unfortunately, CBDV is a rare cannabinoid and has been reported in indica strains from northwest India, hashish strains from Nepal and China. Research revolving around CBDV is in its beginning stages but gaining momentum. While lesser known than its cousin cannabinoid, CBDV is very promising in its advantageous medicinal effects. Cousins: CBD and CBDV

Cousins: CBD and CBDVCBD and CBDV are both classified as phytocannainoids, defined as “any plant-derived natural product capable of either directly interacting with cannabinoid receptors or sharing chemical similarity with cannabinoids or both” (Gertsch). They are non-psychoactive cannabinoids, meaning that they “[do] not interfere with several psychomotor and psychological functions”, stated by a 2011 review published in Current Drug Safety manual. This is because they do not use the CB1 receptors, the pathway that THC uses, which are responsible for the mind-altering effects of THC. Therefore, they do not create that familiar high often times associated with recreational marijuana. This clearly gives CBD and CBDV cannabinoids an advantage as a medicine, because they can naturally provide therapeutic healing with minimal side effects. CBDV actually prioritizes its action at TRPV1 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1) receptors and modulation of gene expression. CBD has also received plenty of attention because its antipsychotic effect that actually calms the nervous system.

The Entourage Effect Cannabis may be most effective when the culmination of cannabinoids is ingested. Introduced into cannabinoid science in 1998 by Shimon Ben-Shabat, with Raphael Mechoulam, the entourage effect represents a novel endogenous cannabinoid molecular regulation route. The synergy between the cannabinoids may actually imitate the body in such a mechanism that it is incredibly similar to the human body’s very own endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) consists of a group of endogenous cannabinoid receptors located throughout the brain and central and peripheral nervous systems that ultimately can affect physiological processes including appetite, pain-sensation, mood, and memory, and can even mediate the psychoactive effects that may come from the cannabis plant. Put in layman’s terms, the various cannabinoids work best combined than in isolation, perhaps fitting perfectly with Aristotle’s quote, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” One of the key points of the entourage effect is the ability to minimize adverse side effects that come from other cannabinoids. By itself, CBD and CBDv each help facilitate the activity of the endocannabinoid system. Research has also shown that CBDV can be effective in minimizing the anxiety that sometimes come from THC, lowering the user’s feeling of paranoia (Russo). Meanwhile, isolation of the cannabinoids is more appealing for pharmaceutical applications.

Epilepsy Research

As of now, CBDV may prove to be the trump card when it comes to treating epilepsy. CBD has already been quite successful in this area, so it is thought that it’s analogue would be the same, if not have an even better effect.

Epilepsy currently is the most common neurological disorder, affecting over 50 million people worldwide (Iannotti). It consists of brain disorders that can range from gentler cases to more severe situations that life-threatening and disabling. The normal pattern of the neuron activity in the brain essentially becomes disturbed, which may attribute to “strange sensations, emotions, and behavior or sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness” (NINDS). These symptoms may ultimately lead to seizures, which occur as often as one every 25 minutes. Typically, epilepsy is treated with modern medicines, surgical techniques, and other drugs, expensive and artificially generated. Drug resistance (about 35%) and poor antiepileptic drug (AED) side-effect profiles contribute to the increase of people looking for alternative forms of treating epilepsy as a much healthier and safer alternative. Some evidence suggests that TRPV1 may contribute to the onset and progression of some forms of epilepsy. Meanwhile, CBDV exerts anticonvulsant activity in vivo and produces TRPV1-mediated intracellular calcium elevation in vitro. If the CBDV is able to activate and desensitize the TRPV1 channels, then there is potential for the treatment of neuronal hyper excitability (Iannotti). It may not just be effective in treating epilepsy, but also psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, which traditionally has no cure, and even multiple sclerosis. Some Italian researchers, using patch-clamp analysis, determined that “CBD and CBDV dose-dependently activate and rapidly desensitize TRPV1, as well as TRP channels of subfamily V type 2 (TRPV2) and subfamily A type 1 (TRPA1).” They proceeded to take hippocampal brain slices from the rats to stimulate an epileptic seizure and discovered that “CBDV reduced both epileptiform burst amplitude and duration”. The effects of CBDV were not reversed by IRTX, a selective TRPV1 antagonist, because the antiepileptiform effects of the CBDV are not uniquely mediated through the TRPV1 activation. Thus, they proposed in their conclusion that “CBDV effects on TRP channel should be studied further in different in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (live) models of epilepsy”, although their current progress is very promising (Iannotti).

In an experiment conducted by Naoki Amada, epileptic seizures were induced using pentylenetrazole (PTZ). It was found that CBDV significantly decreased seizure severity and increased latency to the first seizure sign. Furthermore, CBDV responders clearly exhibited lower seizure severity and the increased onset of latency compared to the non-responders. They confirmed that PTZ-induced increases of the mRNA expression in the genes were suppressed in the CBDV responders. Therefore, the researchers came to the conclusion that they “provide[d] molecular evidence that directly supports behavioral evidence that CBDV exerts significant anticonvulsant effects via oral and other routes of administration” (Amada). These results provide significant flags for additional investigation in models of the progressive disorder and follow the longer term CBDV treatment. This was also supported by the researched conducted by Thomas Hill, where CBDV was confirmed to be an effective anticonvulsant in mice and rats.CBDV’s Next Steps Forward A British biopharmaceutical company, GW Pharmaceuticals, pilots the usage of CBDV as well as other cannabinoids in their medicines. Alongside their product, they continue to research potential treatments using the cannabis plant and have significantly expanded the scope of the benefits of cannabis. In April of 2015, they announced the US Patent Allowance for the use of CBDV in treating epilepsy, for the use in easing the ailments of epileptic patients and specifically for the control of generalized or temporal lobe seizures. They have proven already successful in the treatment of many patients, including children with rare and severe forms of epilepsy, and are gaining ground to this day.

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